Principal, Mobile Assets at AngloGold Ashanti

Objective of the role

• A vacancy exists within the Digital Technology Department for a Principal: Mobile Assets who will be responsible for providing direct support to the Director Mobile Assets and VP Asset Management within the discipline as well as operations, Projects and Joint Ventures in Ghana, Guinea, Tanzania, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, DRC and the US.

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent tertiary qualification in a core engineering discipline – i.e., Mechanical or Electrical or post-graduate in Asset Management.

General Knowledge & Experience

• Strong track record of success at specialist level in the mining industry, working within the surface and underground mobile assets (HME) field. Deep-level understanding of planning and maintenance of mobile equipment to ensure Integrity over the life of the mine.
• At least 5 years of relevant operational experience on a mine site related to mobile mining equipment. Relevant Mine/site-based experience is crucial.

Safety

• Can identify and interpret safety risks and resolve emerging issues; and ensure that appropriate focus and resources are available to achieve safety objectives.
• Is able to interpret the requirements of the Major Hazard Control Standards and guide the operations to achieve compliance.

Asset Management Strategy

• Able to create a complete and well-thought-out asset strategy, using equipment and production data.
• Can establish work management systems that deliver effective planning, resourcing and execution of maintenance work on schedule and within budget.
• Define continuous improvement processes to systematically identify, prevent and eliminate chronic defects that lead to failures of major and critical equipment.
• Able to develop processes to assess the condition of equipment, plant, and critical infrastructure in order to identify early signs of failure, take preventative action and mitigate consequences.
• Understands the critical operational parameters to operate machinery and equipment within design tolerances. 
• Able to define and establish a risk-based asset integrity process that identifies, prioritises and manages asset integrity threats.

Engineering Science

• Deeply understands how to analyse the performance of machinery and equipment and identify opportunities to increase both availability and utilisation.
• Can do fault diagnosis and liaise with subject matter experts and equipment suppliers in collaborating to increase equipment performance.
• Understand the use of Fleet modelling software like Talpac or similar in determining fleet requirements and productivities.

Operational Leadership

• Has a track record of success in leadership roles.
• Has effective communication skills.
• Monitors team performance and only intervenes when required.
• Understands the competencies of individual team members and works with individuals to address gaps and continuously enhance team performance.
• Understands the needs of the business and is able to clearly articulate and prioritise these for the team.
• Understands all functions (technical or otherwise) on a mine to a reasonable level and can contribute to discussions on a broad multi-functional basis.

Business Planning

• Is able to optimise the engineering budget through the evaluation of engineering/maintenance options in conjunction with mine and process planning.
• Provides the tools to track benefits and expenses and for forecasting, planning and execution of the business plan.
• Reviews and validates Stay-in-Business capital plans and projects to meet business requirements and reduce risk.

Operational Excellence

• Is able to set OEE targets and generate innovative solutions to close the performance gaps relating to the primary drivers of value (run time, throughput and reliability)
• Can integrate operational and economic models into a value engineering model for the mine and plant.
• Can demonstrate the sustainability of equipment and process performance improvements by integrating these with the business planning process.

Information Management

• Undertakes systematic analysis to the required level of detail and rigour and supports conclusions with accurate information and analysis.
• Uses sound judgement and experience to validate and/or question the data.

Project Management

• Can review a project for compliance against the standard and make recommendations to address deficiencies.
• Can lead the work of engineering design service providers
• Applies project management principles in achieving deliverables, particularly when working with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong ability to lead and work effectively with people, including leading high-performing professional teams.
• Preparedness to undertake extensive business travel.
• Well-developed industry networks.

Work accountabilities

• Lead, collaborate on or support appropriate technical improvement initiatives such as the Full Asset Potential Programme together with the business units to de-risk the business, exploit opportunities and support the overall business objectives.
• Direct support and coordination of the optimisation, analyses and improvement of mobile asset performance and reliability together with sites (league tables).
• Support technical excellence through the development and custodianship of standards and specifications relating to mobile Assets, including the roll-out of best practices at the operations.
• Lead, coordinate, support, and guide in the selection of mobile equipment, operation, and application improvement, inclusive of all associated functions that support the operation and maintenance of the equipment together with sites.
• Provide the required technical input into project reviews or project development to ensure projects are technically and commercially appropriate regarding design, specification, operability, optimal functionality, and maintainability.
• Identify technologies, systems and processes through technology scanning, development, innovation and industry knowledge sharing to address business opportunities. Coordinate and support the implementation strategy of BEV into mining operations.
• Represent AGA in engagement with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment with the company’s strategic intent and provide for a single point of contact to arrange specialist engineering support to operations.

People Accountabilities:     

• In the capacity of “discipline specialist”, establishing and nurturing sound and professional relationships with consultants, internal departments & project teams, service providers, and suppliers and to maintain a network of suppliers, consultants, and other expertise to provide second-line maintenance support to the operations as required.

Financial Accountabilities: 

• Strive for cost effectiveness through the identification of cost optimization opportunities linked to the Full Asset Potential and/or other operational and financial improvement processes.
• Performing analysis and reviews of site budgets to ensure budgets are technically sound, properly motivated, and prioritized. (This includes support of the fleet replacement strategy and planned component replacement strategy). Indirect influence on budget within asset management at site level approx. $200mil annually across all operations.
• Provide technical input related to contract mining through the support of the procurement and supply chain teams, as well as the site mining and engineering managers.